Bio of BERTHIAUME, Francis, Wright Co., MN
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374 HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY 

Francis Berthiaume was the son of Francis Berthiaume, who was one of two 
brothers who came from France to Canada and founded the American branches 
of the family. Francis, the subject of this sketch, was reared in lower
Canada, and there married Osite Faver. To this union there were born six 
children: Francis, Odelong, Eusebe, Isiah, Osite and Matilda. In 1849 the 
family settled in Montcalm county, Michigan, where one of the children, 
Osite, died. In the spring of 1856 the family came to St. Paul. Two years 
later they settled in Chatham township, secured eighty acres and erected 
a shack on the banks of Birch 

375   HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY

lake. The tract was covered with woods, and no roads led to it, but with 
courage they set about establishing for themselves a home in the wilderness. 
During the Indian troubles they fled to Elk River. Afterward they returned. 
They experienced all the rigors of pioneer life, though they were somewhat 
more fortunate than the rest of the settlers in that they had a pair of 
horses. For supplies they went to Monticello or St. Paul. Francis Berthiaume 
lived to clear flfteen acres of land. He died in 1869 at the age of seventy-
six years, three months and three days. His wife died July 25, 1896, at the 
age of ninety-four years, four months and twenty-five days.